St Joseph's Academy - East Ayrshire

June 24, 2024
by A QUIGLEY
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SQA Results 2024

Dear Parents & Carers,

Please find an important update re. the above which was issued to all pupils via Glow mail.

Dear SQA Candidates,

Please find some important information below regarding your SQA Results.

SQA Results Day 2024

Your SQA Certificate will be delivered to your Home Address on Tuesday 6th August 2024. The SQA will send the certificate to the address the school holds for you.

If you have moved house or changed address, you must inform the school office as soon as possible and provide up to date address details. Otherwise, your certificate will go to the wrong address and you will have to pay SQA for a replacement.

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April 17, 2024
by A QUIGLEY
Comments Off on SQA Exams 2024

SQA Exams 2024

Dear Parents & Carers,

You will be aware that SQA Exams begin on Monday 22^nd April 2024. Please find some important information for parents & carers below.

SQA Exam Timetable

You can find the SQA Exam timetable here. All exams take place in the Games Hall or Small Gym. If your child receives Additional Assessment Arrangements (AAA), they will receive a personalised timetable from Mrs Hoy. Please ensure your child collects this before Study Leave begins. Please note that candidates with AAA may have different start/ end times and/ or locations for exams.

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December 23, 2023
by Mr Kane
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S4/5 into S5/6 Personalisation and Choice

Dear S4/5 Pupils and Parents/Carers,

Our S4/5 into S5/6 Information Evening will take place on Tuesday 9th January at 6.30pm. The content shared below is designed to support further discussion at home.

Interviews for S4/5 pupils will begin shortly after the Information Evening.

School Booklet – Click Here
School Presentation – Click Here
School Video – Click Here
SDS Careers Advice video led by Kate Faulds – Click Here
SDS Careers Adviser Contact Details – Click Here
SCQF Information for Parents/Carers – Click Here

Your Pastoral Care teacher will notify you of your interview date and time during the week beginning Monday 8th January.

Please note, some of the above videos were recorded in earlier sessions, but the advice and guidance is still relevant. The booklet and School Presentations are updated annually.

Kind Regards

December 23, 2023
by Mr Kane
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S3 into S4 Personalisation and Choice

Dear S3 Pupils and Parents/Carers,

Please use the undernoted to further support your son/daughter following our Personalisation and Choice event on the evening of Thursday 11th January at 6.30pm.

S3 Option Choice Presentation – Click Here
S3 Option Choice Booklet (contains option form and important guidance) – Click Here
S3 Option Choice video – Click Here
Careers Adviser video led by Kate Faulds (SDS) – Click Here
Careers Adviser Contact Details to arrange discussion with parents/carers – Click Here
Ayrshire College video led by Ashleigh Brown (Ayrshire College) **Turn Volume Up** – Click Here
Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) PowerPoint Presentation SCQF Information for Parents-Carers

Interviews with Pastoral Care teachers will begin as soon as possible following the information evening.

Please note, some of the above videos were recorded in earlier sessions, but the advice and guidance is still relevant. The booklet and School Presentations are updated annually.

Kind Regards

December 20, 2023
by Mr Kane
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S2 into S3 Personalisation and Choice Materials

Dear S2 pupils,

At this time of year we begin to plan for next session and make decisions about our S3 Pathways. The Information Evening for your year group will take place on Tuesday 16th January, with staff stalls accessible from around 5.10pm and presentations starting at 6.30pm. Parents/Carers and Pupils are encouraged to use the opportunity to discuss specific subjects with staff from 5.10pm where possible.

The files shared below are designed to support further discussion at home before your options interview.

School Booklet – Click Here
School Presentation – Click Here
School Video – Click here
SDS Careers Advice video led by Kate Faulds – Click Here
SDS Careers Adviser Contact Details – Click Here
SCQF Information for Parents/Carer – Click Here

Your Pastoral Care teacher will notify you of your interview date and time in early January.

Please note, some of the above videos were recorded in earlier sessions, but the advice and guidance is still relevant. The booklet and School Presentations are updated annually.

Kind Regards

November 28, 2023
by Mrs SHEARER
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Option Choices Webinar

Option Choices webinar for parents and carers of S2 and S3 pupils, Thursday 7 December 6.30pm

Skills Development Scotland careers advisers are hosting a webinar for parents and carers of S2 and S3 pupils on 7 Dec at 6:30pm to discuss option choices and the support and resources available from Skills Development Scotland to support both young people and parents and carers at this time.

Parents and carers can register for our session here: https://option-choices-webinar.eventbrite.co.uk

November 6, 2023
by A QUIGLEY
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Prelim Exams 2023

Dear Parents & carers,

Our prelim diet takes place in November/ December this year.

Please find a copy of our prelim timetable here, with some important information about prelim exams on the last page. Please take time to read the important info below.

A copy was also emailed to pupils.

Prelim TT Final

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CANDIDATES TAKING PRELIM EXAMINATIONS
Full school uniform must be worn to all exams and when S4-6 pupils attend school at any time during the prelim diet. Outdoor jackets and any non-uniform
items must be removed in the exam hall, as they would be in class.
There is no Study Leave for prelim exams. All candidates should attend classes as usual unless they have a scheduled exam.
Candidates should ensure they know the location of each exam in advance and must check the seating lists in ‘The Street’ area from 8:40am to ensure they
know their seat number.
Candidates entitled to alternative assessment arrangements i.e. use of ICT or extra time will have alternative accommodation. These candidates should ensure
they know their individual arrangements in advance of each exam. Please see Mrs Hoy if you are unsure.
Candidates should arrive at least ten minutes before each exam to ensure they are seated and the assessment can begin promptly.
Candidates are responsible for bringing all necessary equipment such as pens, pencils and calculators. Paper will be provided.
Exam papers and candidate answers must be left in the exam hall and cannot be removed.
School transport will continue as normal during the prelim diet, as will canteen service. Pupils may need to take an earlier or later lunch depending on exam
times and should ensure they plan ahead for this.
If a candidate is unable to attend a scheduled exam due to serious illness or an emergency, parents/ carers should contact the school office on 01563 526 144
as soon as possible and leave a message stating the pupil name, year group, scheduled exam and reason for absence. Prelim exams cannot be rescheduled/
resat unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Exam locations:
Games Hall – the large gym hall, access at the Drama Studio, Fitness Suite and the Assembly Hall
Small Gym – the smaller gym next to the primary gym, access via corridor at PE
Support for Learning – if you are sitting an exam in an alternative location because you receive additional arrangements, report to Mrs Hoy before the exam
begins, across from the school library, if you are unsure where to go.

Kind Regards,

Miss Quigley

August 2, 2023
by A QUIGLEY
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SQA Results Day 8th August 2023

Dear Parents & Carers,

I hope you are enjoying the summer break. Please find an email below shared with all pupils who worked towards SQA Qualifications this year.

If your child needs any support with their SQA results, including requesting an appeal or an options change, pleas find links to the forms they require below. The forms open to pupils at 6am on Tuesday 8th August 2023.

Dear Senior phase pupils,

You will receive your SQA Certificate to your home address on Tuesday 8^th August. Please do not panic if your mail comes later than normal as it is a very busy day for Royal Mail. If you signed up for electronic results on MySQA, you will receive your grades by text or email.

The certificate you receive will detail all SQA awards you have gained, including qualifications without an exam i.e. N4s, NPAs and individual unit awards.

Appeals

If the result you receive is unexpected or you believe it could be wrong, you have the right to appeal that grade. Only you can request an appeal, not your parents or carers. Appealing a grade is free of charge.

In 2023, Appeals will involve an SQA Marker re-marking the exam paper you sat during the exam diet. There are some very important things you must be aware of if you appeal.

The school does not send any alternative evidence to SQA for Appeals. This means that if you received a higher grade in your prelim, it does not help your appeal.
The estimated grade your teacher provided, and may have discussed with you, has no bearing on your ability to appeal a grade
If you require an appeal for university entry this September, this will be dealt with as matter of priority by SQA
If you appeal, your grade could go up or go down or stay the same

If you wish to appeal one or more grades, please use the form below. Please do not contact your pastoral care teacher, class teacher or office staff and only use the form below to request an appeal. The form opens at 6am on Tuesday 8^th August.

SQA Appeals form

If you request an appeal using this form, Miss Quigley will contact you by telephone or meet with you in person to discuss when you return to school.

Options Changes

Following your results, a small number of you may need to make changes to your S5 or S6 options. This may be due to performing better than expected in a subject, needing to resit a subject or requiring an improved grade for university. Please note that some subject change requests may not be possible if the timetable columns do not allow it, or a subject is full.

If you need to request an options change based on SQA Results, please use the form below. Alternatively, you can come in to school on Friday 18^th August to speak to me in person. Please do not contact your pastoral care teacher, class teacher or office staff and only use the form below or see me in person to request a change. The form opens at 6am on Tuesday 8^th August.

Options change request form

Please ensure you complete the form or come and see me in person to change an option. This will allow you to return to school on Monday 21^st August 2023 with a full and correct timetable. This will also minimise any disruption to learning when we return to school.

Kind Regards,

Miss Quigley

June 22, 2023
by A QUIGLEY
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SQA Results Day and Appeals

Dear Parents & Carers,

Please find important information regarding SQA Results & Appeals below. This has been shared with all pupils who worked towards SQA Qualifications this session in an email.

SQA Results Day

You will receive your SQA Certificate to your home address on Tuesday 8^th August. You must let us know urgently if you have moved house and not updated your address with the school.

Given that every candidate across the country is receiving certificates on this date, Royal Mail staff will be very busy. I would recommend you sign up for text and/or email alerts at MySQA here.

The certificate you receive will detail all SQA awards you have gained, including qualifications without an exam i.e. N4 or NPAs and individual unit awards.

Appeals

If the result you receive is unexpected or you believe it could be wrong, you have the right to appeal that grade. Only you can request an appeal, not your parents or carers. Appealing a grade is free of charge.

In 2023, Appeals will involve an SQA Marker re-marking the exam paper you sat during the exam diet. There are some very important things you must be aware of if you appeal.

The school does not send any alternative evidence to SQA for Appeals. This means that if you received a higher grade in your prelim, it does not affect your appeal.
The estimated grade your teacher provided and may have discussed with you, has no bearing on your ability to appeal a grade
If you require an appeal for university entry, this will be dealt with as matter of priority
If you appeal, your grade could go up or go down or stay the same

I will issue a Microsoft form to pupils by email on Monday 7^th August for you to register any appeals.

Please only use the form I email you to request an appeal and do not contact your class teacher, pastoral care teacher or any other school staff member directly regarding Appeals. The school will still be closed for Summer Holidays, and they will be unlikely to respond.

Important Dates for appeals:

Deadline to submit Appeals – 15^th August (priority) and 29^th August (non priority)

SQA issues Appeals results – October 2023

Replacement certificates issued by SQA – mod November 2023

Options Changes

I will issue a Microsoft form on Monday 7^th August for you to request an options change if the above applies. Alternatively, you can come into the school on Thursday 17^th August after 1pm if you wish to discuss an Options change with me directly.

If you have any questions about the above, please reply to this email or speak to me in person before we finish on Friday 30^th June. I am always in ‘the street’ at Senior Phase lunch to discuss any SQA Matters 🙂

Miss Quigley

April 27, 2023
by A QUIGLEY
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Cost of Living Support, Free School Meals and Clothing Grant

Dear Parents & Carers,

Please find important information below from Kimberley Cameron, our Financial Inclusion Officer. Kimberley can be contacted confidentially via telephone or email, details below.

Kimberley Cameron

Tel: 07407112089

Email: kimberley.cameron@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Clothing Grant application deadline

Low-income families, including those in work, can get free school meals, milk and a school clothing grant to help towards buying school clothes for their children when receiving certain qualifying benefits (or meet an Immigration and Asylum criteria)

Clothing Grant

Clothing Grant applications for the current academic year 2022/23 need to be made by Friday 28^th April 2023.

The applications for the next academic year 2023/24 will open on Monday 1^st May 2023; the processing of these applications will not start until June.

Free School Meals

If your child qualifies for free school meals then they would be entitled to receive a two course meal worth £2.15 per day.

For the current year 2022/23 you can make an application up until the end of this term.

The applications for the next academic year 2023/24 will open on Monday1^st May 2023. You need to apply each year, as the award is not continuous.

Check if you qualify and to apply online–

Clothing grants and free school meals · East Ayrshire Council (east-ayrshire.gov.uk)

Cost of Living – Extra Payments Available

Including those in work, on a low income and entitled to certain benefits or tax credits

You may be entitled to up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299, if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates: